Despite playing up a man for 45 minutes and creating numerous dangerous and promising scoring chances, MNUFC2 narrowly lost to Earthquakes II by a 1-0 score line at PayPal Park on Sunday night. The Twos will re-group ahead of next week’s fixture on the road against Colorado Rapids 2.
17’ - MNUFC2 defender Philip Tarnue created the Twos’ first dangerous scoring opportunity when he quickly gained possession outside the goalkeeper's box. Tarnue then fired off a long-distance shot that forced Earthquakes II goalkeeper Nathan Crockford to make a leaping save.
26’ - First Team forward Darius Randell received a through-ball pass from midfielder Luciano Pechota and beat an Earthquakes II defender, giving him the chance to make an uncontested run towards goal. Randell created a one-on-one with the Quakes’ keeper, Crockford, but his shot was stopped.
30’ - Just a few minutes later, Randell yet again had a chance at scoring uncontested from close range after he possessed the ball on the right flank of the 18-yard box, taking a shot that eventually floated well over the crossbar.
36’ - The home side found its first possible scoring chance following a cross into MNUFC2’s penalty area. Quakes II forward Shane de Flores trapped the ball and took a one-time volley shot, just missing wide left of the post.
44’ (0-1) - Earthquakes II scored first off a corner kick opportunity. Edwyn Mendoza’s service into the box floated above MNUFC2 goalkeeper Kristers Bite’s reach, landing right by Alejandro Cano, who headed the ball into the net at the back post.
45’ - Rohan Rajagopal was shown a second yellow card on the night, which forced Quakes II to play a man down for the remainder of the match.
59’ - MNUFC First Team forward Marcus Caldeira possessed a pass deep inside the San Jose penalty area, where he made a turn to create space before he took a shot that just barely was off target.
62’ - Three minutes after, midfielder Luciano Pechota found the ball atop the 18-yard box and took the shot from distance, but again missed high above the crossbar.
85’ - Julian Donnery made a breakaway run towards MNUFC2’s defending third, creating a dangerous play for the home side. Donnery connected with Mendoza who then took a shot from just next to the penalty mark, but his shot was saved by Bite.
88’ - MNUFC Academy player Jabari Kibisu found open space inside the Quakes’ box, making a short run before he fired off a shot that sailed north of the frame.
90’ + 2’ - The Twos earned a corner kick, and midfielder Troy Putt delivered the service into San Jose’s six-yard box, where midfielder Sam Vigilante’s header attempt hit he crossbar and bounced out of play.
GOALS
0-1 SJE II - Alejandro Cano (Edwyn Mendoza) - 44’
DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY
SJE II - Shane de Flores (caution) - 15’
SJE II - Rohan Rajagopal (caution) - 29’
SJE II - Rohan Rajagopal (ejection) - 45’
MNUFC2 - Max Harwood (caution) - 64’
MNUFC2 - Luciano Pechota (caution) - 83’
NOTABLE STATS
1 – Goalkeeper Kristers Bite and defender Philip Tarnue both made their MLS NEXT Pro and MNUC2 debut appearances tonight. Additionally, MNUFC Academy U18 defender Lennox Moua made his debut professional appearance for MNUFC2 (on an amateur contract agreement) coming on as a second-half substitute.
TEAM LEADERS (Updated through April 12, 2026)
Goals – Marcus Caldeira (3)
Assists – Momoh Kamara (2)
Saves – Kai Zeruhn (5)
Wins – Kai Zeruhn, Keane Perkins (1)
Shutouts – Keane Perkins (1)
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LINEUPS*
MNUFC2 XI: GK Kristers Bite; D Anderson Farris (Lennox Moua 88’), Nick Dang, Alpha Kabia © (Cal Grulke 88’), Philip Tarnue (Jadan Bernard 65’); M Luciano Pechota, Max Harwood (Jabari Kibisu 65’), Darius Randell (Issa Saidi 83’), Sam Vigilante, Troy Putt; F Marcus Caldeira
Substitutes Not Used: GK Alex Witte; D Sully Maynes; F Tim Dennis
Earthquakes II XI: GK Nathan Crockford; D Alejandro Cano © (Diogo Brandes Baptista 71’), Niklass Dossmann, Martin Mukah Kwende Jr. (Jacob Heisner 70’), Zachary Bohane; M Kaedren Spivey (Gabriel Bracken Serra 80’), Rohan Rajagopal, Edwyn Mendoza; F Julian Donnery, Tomo Allen (Yujin Kikuchi 80’), Shane de Flores (Jermaine Spivey 90’+2’)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Connor Lambe; D Dominic Lorenti, Alexander Ling
